Steering-wheel lock



Aug. 11. 1925. y 1,549,568

R. A. BATES STEERING 4WHEEL LOCK Filed July 16, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. ll,A 1925.

' f 1,549,568 R. A. BATES y STEERING WHEEL LOCK Filed July 16 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inwenfl o1vl Aug. l1', 1925. 1,549,568

R. A. BATES STEERING WHEEL LOCK F1\d July 16, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Imenov Russe ABQ-fes 65% vw. mi

Patented fang. ll, 19225.

tllkitpf@ STATES orties.

RUSSELL A. BATES, OF GRAND RAPXDS, MECHGAN, ASSIGNOR T NEHEB/BATES MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF GRAND RAEIDS, MCHGN, A. CORPORATION OF MICHI- GAN.

STEERING-WHEEL LOCK.

Application filed .Tilly 16, 1923.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that lt, RUssnLL A. Barns, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering-l/Vheel Locks; and l do hereby de elare the following` to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in automobile steering Wheel locks and its principal object is to provide a simple and effective lock by means of which the steering wheel may be locked in operative connect-ion with the steering gear and also to disconnect the steering Wheel from the steering` gear and lock it so that it may not be reconnected without insertion of the proper key.

To conform with police regulation in many cities and also for the sake of safety, the automobile when locked, should be in condition to be moved a short distance in case of emergency. rllie device embodying this invention, while disconnecting the steering wheel from the steering gear and making it impossible to steer the automobile to drive it away, still permits the vehicle to be moved a short distance, the steering in this einen gency being done by turning the front wheels direct, they being free. to be moved.

The locking device shown in the accompanying drawing is applied A'to a particular type of steering wheel which is adapted to "ce heated by means of exhaustgas from the engine passing through chambers and passages therein. t is not essential that the lock be applied to this particular type of steering Wheel as it will function equally Well upon an ordinary steering Wheel not having the heated feature.

The iocking device is provided with various novel features of construction and arrangement as hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the aecompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is an axial sectional elevation of the locking device properly applied to the steering Wheel and in disconnected position a fragment of the Wheel and a portion of the steering gear being shown.

Serial No. 651,763.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the upper portion of the locking device taken on a plane at right angles to F ig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3 3 or rig. i.

F ig. et is a fragmentary section on the line 4 4; of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the locking sleeve and lock receptacle Which form a part of the structure.

Fig. G is a perspective View of the lock element.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the lock receptacle and the upper' portion of the steering shaft.

Fig. S is a perspective view of the steering shaft bushing.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the locking sleeve and Fig. l0 is a sectional plan on the line lO-lO of Fig. l.

Like reference numerals apply to like parts in all of the figures.

l represents the steering Wheel having a hub 2. The hub 2 is provided With acertain cliambered member 3 which registers With a corresponding chambered member 4 havingI a passage 5 to admit exhaust gas from the engine to heat the steering Wheel. The ball-bearing 6 and spring 7, are also associated with the said chambered members 3 and if, none of Which are essential to the locking device embodying this invention.

8 is the steering shaft and as herein shown, it is provided at its lower end With a gear 9 which is one of the steering gears, the rotation of which moves the front Wheels of the vehicle. l0 is the cap of the steering gear housing in which the steering shaft bushing 1l is journaled. The chambered member 3 is fastened into the hub 2 of the steering Wheel by the threaded ring l2 and the doivel pins 13, and may be considered as a part of the steering Wheel hub.

Into the top of the hub 2, is screwed the bushing la which has a flange extending over the top surface of the hub and in the top surface of the said flange a plurality of radial recesses 16 are provided. The locking sleeve 17 fits into the bushing 1,4, being vertically slidable therein and i-t is provided at its upper end `With a plurality of radial lugs 18 which are adapted vvllen the looking,` sleeve is lowered to enter the radial recesses 1G and look the two meinbers together.

The lock reeegtaele 19 is screwed on to the upper end ot' the steering shaft 8 and is Cylindrical in shape and lits into the leeking sleeve 18. Key ways 2O are out in ametrieally opposite sides and on the outer surfaces of the loek reeeptaele 19 and the steering shaft 8 and corresponding keyways 21 are out on the inner' surface ot the looking sleeve 17 and slots 2:2 serving` as key ways are provided in the upper end ot the steering shaft bushing` 11. lli/Then the looking` deviee is assembled, the keys only one of which is shown in Fig. 1 ot' the drawing, are inserted in these key ways which cause the members 8, 11, 17 and 18 to rotate together. v y The Acupped washer 24: is clamped between the end of the bushing 11 and the look reeeptaele 19 retains the steering wheel in position preventing it trom being lifted oil' the bushing- 11. n

rlhe leek element is ot an ordinary eonstruction being eylindrieal in shape and having 'extensible bolts 2G which are retracted within the body ot' the leek by insertion oit a` key 27 and which automatically extend be yond the body when the key is ren'ioved. The said look elementlits into the look receptacle 19, the in erior ot' which is provided withl two sets oit diainetrieally opposite` grooves 28 which reeeive the extended bolts 26 in either ot two positions ot the leek elenient.

The loek reeeptaele 19 is provided near its lower end with two diainetrieally opposite horizontal arcuate slots 29, and the looking sleeve 17 is provided near its lo ver end with two diametrieally opposite inel ined arcuate slots 30. il hole is provided in the lower end ot' the leek element through whieh a pin 31 extends its opposite ends extending through the said opposite .irenate slots 29 and 30. Rotation oit' the leek ineinber together with the pin 31 will ea .se vei'tieal movement ot the looking sleeve 1'?. A ap S2 tits over the flange 15 et the bushing' 1d and is provided in its center with an opening 33 through which the key may he inserted and a swinging; eover tlf-l; pi 'oted at to the eap, eloses the opening; 33 and nay have attached to it an imitation rap nut 3G to disguise its real purpose.

The operation el the deviee is as follows:

TWhen the wheel is opera 'lvely connected to the steering` shait, the loekie;v sleeve 1lM is lowered so that the radial lugs 1b thereon are within the radial reeeses 1li ot the. 'dang'- ed bushingv The said flanged bushing is iinmovably eonneeted to the st ering wheel by the dowel pins 13 whieh pass through its flange 15 and the looking sleeve 17 is eonneeted by means ot the keys 23 to the steeriaoeee ing shaft Si. Thus when the members 17 and 111- ai'e eonneeted by the lups 153 in the reeesses it.. the steeringY wheel and steering hatt are eoiiiieel'ed and rotate together.

ln conne" d position as above deseribed the loek el ont having' the pin 31 at its lower end. is tiiriiezl 'to one of is esiti' positions, the said pin 31 in the slot 30 ot the lor-king sleeve retaining;v the. sleevz'A in lowerered position and when the key 2l' withdrawn troni tl e loek element the bolts 2G will extend into two opposite grooves L8 and thus retain the pzi'ts in this relative position. 'llo disf-` 'ivieetthe steering wheel troni the t, key 9" is inserted in. the

.irli

i In 'the loek ol xnient is then i'otate-rl by nie .ns et the key Qi" and as it rotates the pin 3l trav ing the iiielined slot 3G in th 'i' leere will iiiove the said sleeve iipw i the lugs 18 on it are disengaged tr in ther biisl ing; 111. ln this position there no positive eonneetion between the steering' ".vheel and the steering slia'tt and either is tree to rotate irrespeetife ot tht ther. ly withdrawing' the key 2T when rls are in niseoniieetod position. the bolts iid into the seeond pair ol' slots 2S ind thus loifk the deviee in diseoniieeted position.

lt will be seen tl at the operation oi this and ell'eetdriver has only to inind turn it slightly from Llier to either eoniieet oiY ng a heel 'i'oin the stee withd awingjf the kej, l t itiv-elk'; loeked in either eoiin,

L simple, convenient ite. The automobile Hert tliepreper key i one position to anov diseonneet the steeri ing shaft. wheel is po or diseoin and operative as ii'eetly to the s?. 4 k and not when di; onneeted it is if ely 'tree rotate and likewi' fi the troie i'-.'liee`:.-; are Yi'i'ee to be turned iii i direction, so lh is no dani; of ing' upon either wheel.

rl`his locking); device n eiiiliodied in a heated stt-,ei

ing'

conveniently wheel as before mentioned? or it iiiay infinist as ei'iieetiveli.'

int, a non-heated steering wheel sti'ueture.

recesses to receive the said lugs on the locking member, a lock element rotatable in the lock receptacle and having a pin extending through the horizontal arcuate slot and into the cam slot whereby rotation of the look element will raise or lower the locking inember.

2. A steering wheel lock comprising a steering shaft having a lieyway, a cylindrical lock receptacle upon the upper end of the shaft having a corresponding keyway and also having a horizontal arcuate slot, a locking sleeve vertically slidable upon the lock receptacle and having a keyway, a key inserted in said keyways whereby the shaft, lock receptacle, and locking sleeve are caused to rotate together, a steering wheel mounted upon the shaft and having recesses in its upper surface, lugs on the locking sleeve adapted to enter said recessesand a lock element rotatable within the lock receptacle and having a pin extending through said arcuate slot and into the cam slot whereby rotation of the lock element will cause a vertical movement of the locking sleeve.

3. A steering wheel lock comprising a steering shaft having a keyway, a hollow cylindrical lock receptacle mounted on the upper end of the shaft and having a corresponding keyway and a horizontal arcuate slot and also having 'vertical grooves on its inner surface, a locking sleeve surrounding the lock receptacle and vertically slidable thereon and having a keyway on its inner surface and a cam slot, a key in said keyways which causes the shaft, lock receptacle, and sleeve to rotate together, lugs on the locking sleeve, a steering wheel mounted upon the steering shaft and having recesses in its upper surface to receive the said lugs, a lock element rotatably mounted in the lock receptacle and having extensible bolts re tracted by a key and adapted when extended to enter a vertical groove on the interior of the look receptacle, and a pin fixed to the lock element and extending through the horizontal arcuate slot and into the cam slot whereby rotation of the lock element will cause vertical movement of the locking sleeve.

4. A steering wheel lock comprising a steering shaft having a keyway, a steering wheel mounted upon the shaft and having a threaded opening in its upper surface, a bushing screwed into said threaded opening and pinned to the steering wheel said bushing having recesses in its upper surface, a hollow lock receptacle screwed on to the upper end of the steering shaft and having a keyway in its outer surface, a plurality of grooves in its inner surface and a horizontal arcuate slot, a. washer lying within the threaded opening in the steering wheel and engaging the bottom of said opening and the lower end of the bushing therein and being clamped between the steering shaft and lock receptacle, a locking sleeve surrounding the lock receptacle and having a keyway in its inner surface and a cam slot, lugs on the locking sleeve adapted to enter the recesses on the threaded bushing, a` key inserted into the keyways of the steering shaft, lock receptacle, and locking sleeve whereby the said members are caused t0 rotate together, a lock element rotatable in the lock receptacle and having extensible bolts retracted by a key and adapted when extended to enter one of the vertical grooves in the interior of the lock receptacle and a pin fixed to the lock element and extending through said arcuate slot and into said cam slot whereby rotation of the lock elementcauses vertical movement of the locking sleeve.

5. A steering wheel look comprising a steering shaft having a keyway, a bushing surrounding said shaft and having a key slot yin its upper end, a steering wheel mounted upon said bushing and having a threaded opening in its upper surface, a bushing screwed into said threaded opening and pinned to the steering wheel said bushing having recesses in its upper surface, a

hollow lock receptacle screwed on to the upper end of the steering shaft and having a keyway in its outer surface, a plurality of grooves in its inner surface and a horizontal arcuate slot, a washer lying wit-hin the threaded opening in the steering wheel and engaging the bottom of said opening and the lower end of the bushing therein and being clamped between the steering shaft and lock receptacle, a locking sleeve surrounding the lock receptacle and having a keyway in its inner surface and a cam slot, lugs on the locking sleeve adapted to enter the recesses on the threaded bushing, a key inserted into the keyways of the steering shaft, lock receptacle, and looking sleeve whereby the said members are caused to rotate together, al lock element rotatable in the lock receptacle and having extensible bolts retracted by a key and adapted when extended to enter one of the vertical grooves inthe interior ef the lock receptacle and a pin fixed to the lock element and extending thro-ugh said arcuate slot and into said cam slot whereby rotation of the lock element causes vertical movement of the locking sleeve.

RUSSELL A. BATES. 

